Hopple.



UNTTED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD VICTOR GORRINGE AND ALONZO LAVORA HEAD, OF OAKLEY, IDAHO.

HOPPLE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 664,263, dated December 18, 1900.

Application filed August '7, 1900.

To whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDWARD VICTOR GOR- RINGE and ALONZO LAVORA READ, citizens of the United States, residing at Oakley, in the county of Cassia and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hopples; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being-had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in hopples, and especially to the provision of a pair ofshackles which are designed to embrace the legs of the animal near the feet, there being swivel connections between each shackle, and suitable means for connecting and holding the ends of the chain to the shackle-plate in fixed positions.

To these ends and to such others as the invention may pertain, the same consists,,further, in the novel construction, combination, and adaptation of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and then specifically defined in the appended claim.

Our invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this application, and in which drawings similar letters of reference indicate like parts in theseveral views, in which Figure l is a perspective view of the hopple. Fig. 2 is a central sectional view longitudinally through the spring-fastener, one of the shackles of the hopple through which the section is taken being shown on edge. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the shackle-plates. Fig. 4c is a perspectige view of one of the shackles as opened to embrace the animals leg.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates one of the shackle-plates and is curved, as shown, so as to conform to the contour of the leg of the animal. This plate has an angled extension A at one end, and an aperture B is formed in said plate, which aperture extends into said angled extension. At a location, preferably midway the length of the plate, is

Serial No. 26,183. \No model.)

formed a loop 0, while directly underneath said loop is an aperture in the plate, as shown. Midway between the angled end of the plate and said loop is a cross piece or bar D, which is integral with said plate and divides said spaces. The outer face of said bar is slightly below the outer face of the plate, and one end of aspring E is fastened to said bar, the free end of the spring extending through the loop 0. The plate A is fastened by rivets or any other suitable means to one end of a strap F, and to the inner face of said strap is fastened a leather band H, which is designed to contact with the leg of the animal. Instead of the leather band of course any other band of suitable material may be used. The outer face of the plate A is recessed, as at K, on either side of the apertureB. The rear face of the angled extension of the plate A is continuous with the outer face of the wall of said recess or recesses, and the opposite end walls of the recesses are slightly curved, so as to conform to the end of a link of a chain, which link is designed to be held in said recesses. The second shackle-plate M is fastened to the opposite end of the strap, said plateM being curved, and at the outer end of the plateis an integraltongue M, which is curved and has a hooked end N, the hook being on the outer portion of the tongue and designed when said tongue is inserted through the aperture in the angled extension of the plate A and underneath the loop 0 to engage the rear edge of the loop, and as the free end of the spring E bears yieldingly against the under edge of the hooked tongue the latter is held in a locked relation against the loop.

The end links of the chain whereby the shackles are held together are designated in the drawings by letter R, and the curved end of each link is adapted to be seated in the recesses in the plate, and one face of the link when the link is adjusted in place is designed to rest against the inner face of the angled extension. There is interposed between the links of the chain a swivel member, so that the links engaging the shackle members do not turn as the animal walks.

In adjusting the shackles in place or looking same to the leg of the animal the locking parts are released, so as to permit the shackle to be opened to embrace the leg of the animal, the elasticity of the leather of which the shackle is composed allowing the same to be opened, as will be readily understood, and the links are seated in the recesses provided to receive same, and the hooked tongue is inserted through the aperture in the angled extension, the link, and the loop, and the spring will throw the hooked end of the tongue into engagement with the loop, and the shackle will be locked to the leg of the animal.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A hopple comprising the shackles, each made up of a curved plate A having an angled extension which is apertured, the inner end of said aperture extending a short distance into the curved portion of the plate, the walls on either side of the inner end of said aperture being recessed, the loop and spring fastened atone end to a cross-bar on the plate, the free end of said spring extending through said loop, the second plate M curved, the straps connecting said plates, one end of said plate having an integral hooked tongue slightly curved, combined with the links having swivel connection, each link adapted to rest in the recesses and against the inner faces of the angled extensions, and the hooked tongues to be inserted through the apertures of the angled extensions the links and through said loops, as set forth.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD VICTOR GORRINGE.

ALONZO LAVORA READ.

Witnesses:

J. F. TATRO, O. E. PARKINSON. 

